Page 22 of Bloodbane
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Requiem or Reckoning
{ G R A Y S O N }
Ruby slumps against the askew desk. She looks like a marionette that’s just had its strings severed, every spark of energy gone. Unexpectedly, I can relate.
The hollow ache in my chest grows as the truck engine fades. Seeing Thayne again, learning his fate, is a cross too heavy to bear right now. The crimson in my ledger is growing—ghosts rising for requiem… or reckoning. Thayne’s justice will come. After Ruby’s.
While her eyes are closed, I take a moment to assess her new injuries. Her lips are chapped from the cold, making the puffy red split look worse, and the dark bruise on her cheekbone has bled out further beneath the skin, creeping up to her eye and curving down toward her ear. Guilt turns my gut rancid. First Thayne, now Ruby. When my ashes are scattered to the winds, suffering will be my only legacy.
“I’m sorry for injuring you.”
Ruby waves off the apology. “I’ve had worse. Hell, I’ve had worse this week.” After shoving off the desk with a groan, she makes her way into the cell. She drops like a stone to the bunk, and when I follow suit, she nudges me with her shoulder wearily.
“Do you want me to have a look at your injuries? I promise a silver-free zone.”
I smile despite myself. “It’ll be fine. Nothing a little water can’t take care of.” And a whole lot of blood.
“You’re welcome to use my shower.”
If this is the new tactic to curry favor and extract answers, I can’t find the snare. I wait, but Ruby doesn’t elaborate.
“Does that invitation come with an explanation?”
“Ahh,” Ruby shrugs sheepishly. “This is going to be entirely anticlimactic after the shit show that just played out, but surprise, you’re a free man. The charges against you have been dropped; Coop released a BOLO for Arlo. Which means, you can finally say goodbye to this godforsaken mattress.” Ruby bounces gently in place, frowning at the squeaking springs. “I forgot how uncomfortable it is. I also forgot to ask where you live, but it’s obviously not around here, so I thought… I mean, if you don’t have anywhere to go, you are welcome to stay with me. No strings, no more questions, just a much better bed, and amazing water pressure.”
It’s a tantalizing prospect, and with Ruby’s body radiating warmth, pressed up against mine, the temptation is almost too great to pass up. But it’s also the worst tactical decision I could make. Staying with Ruby means two targets in one place. That’s if I don’t end up killing her myself.
“I appreciate the offer, but given the circumstances, I don’t think that would be prudent.”
“Oh.” Ruby’s shoulders fall. “No. Of course. You’re probably right. Is there someone else you can stay with?”
For a moment, I consider not answering, knowing well enough by now that Ruby does not often take no for an answer. Still, truth is one of very few virtues I can claim. I won’t sacrifice it simply to grease the wheels of a tedious conversation.
“No.”
“I don’t think Arlo will be back tonight, but I can’t rule it out, so it’s not safe to stay here. And we’re probably looking at a full whiteout by morning, it’s too dangerous to travel far tonight.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe you will,” Ruby says quickly, “but maybe you won’t. I think it’s best if you wait until the storm passes. If you don’t want to stay with me—I mean, if you’d prefer your own space, I can set you up at King’s.”
“I can’t.” Now more than ever, I need to feed. I won’t last more than a day in my current condition, which means anyone in my vicinity is in danger.
“Yes, you can. Even if just for tonight. Please?”
How can one little word make my resolve waver? “Why do you care so much?”
Ruby is quiet for a moment, nibbling on her lip. I almost expect her teeth to be stained red when she finally speaks. “If you leave, you could get lost or hurt, and I…” she twists her hands in her lap. “And I’ll have to mount a search and rescue operation to try and find you, and that will put more lives at risk.”
The words tumble from Ruby’s lips in a jumble. They match the anxious beat under her ribs, but I would wager they’re hiding Ruby’s true intentions. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. I find myself wanting Ruby to admit that she wants me to stay to be with her. But it’s selfish desire only: wanting to be wanted but needing to leave.
“I’ll sign a waiver releasing you from any obligation to search for me. You’ll never have to think of me again.”
“Yeah, like that’s going to happen,” Ruby mutters.
I place my hand on Ruby’s much smaller one, soaking in the heat until my hand warms enough that I almost remember the feeling of blood pounding through my veins… of being human. It’s a feeling I’ve had once before…
Standing abruptly, I take two steps toward the cell door, pausing only when Ruby jumps to her feet and darts in front of me. She places a restraining hand on my arm. “Wait! What if… what if I want you to stay for, um, completely unofficial reasons?”
I freeze, the galloping beat of Ruby’s heart echoing in my ears. “Is that what you want?”
“Today was… I don’t even know. I thought that maybe… but it wasn’t… and you make me feel—” Ruby breaks off, shaking her head, letting her gaze fall to her feet. She blows out a low breath. “I know it’s crazy, but I—yes, I want you to stay. And I want you to want to stay. With me .”
The vulnerability on display touches something almost forgotten inside me. With a single finger gently pressing under Ruby’s chin, I tip her face up. “I do want to stay. But I can’t.”
The whispered confession lands on Ruby’s pink-tinged cheeks. Her gaze dips to my mouth before her lashes flutter closed. A pink tongue darts out to moisten dry lips as her heartbeat quickens.
My last thread of control unravels.
Despite knowing it can only end disastrously, I close the distance with a bend of my neck, claiming her mouth with an impatient growl. The taste of Ruby is everything I’ve been imagining and more, bursting onto my tongue, sweet and ambrosial. I fight the stab of hunger as my arousal swells: the intrinsic link of mating and feeding cursed into my biology.
Ruby shifts against me, pressing closer, locking her hands around my neck as she licks into my mouth seeking more, but I jerk back, breaking the embrace as Ruby’s tongue slices over a pointed fang, and fresh blood spills into my mouth.
I stagger away, running my tongue over my teeth, scraping the bitter taste away as fractured images splinter into my mind.
Snow. Blood. Teeth.
Shards of Ruby’s life flicker in front of my open eyes, shifting like a kaleidoscope. I wipe the sleeve of my sweatshirt over my lips, discreetly spitting into the fabric.
Ruby winces, running the tip of her tongue over the roof of her mouth. “Ow, Jesus, fuck. God, I’m a disaster. I don’t know how I managed to do that. I’m sorry.”
In a single moment, everything changes.
Bile climbs up my throat. I stare at Ruby in horror as images flicker before my waking eyes.
“You were attacked that day at the lake. You were bitten.”
It’s not a question. I’ve tasted it. I’ve seen it.
Ruby shrugs. “It’s no big deal. Milo patched me up, gave me a bunch of shots. It’s healing fine. Doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
So much for best-laid plans.
“I will take your offer,” I say slowly. “If it still stands?”
Ruby brightens visibly, flashing a pink-tinged smile. “Absolutely. You can have a shower and freshen up, and then you can finally give me a list of your safe foods. I’m sure I have something at home that qualifies as healthy.” Ruby motions me toward the station door.
I move mechanically, registering Ruby talking beside me but unable to make out the words through the white noise roaring in my ears. The taste of Ruby’s blood lingers on my tongue. Bitter—the taste of lycan blood.
Ruby is infected.
I fight the urge to put my fist through the cabin door before Ruby pulls it closed behind us. Outside, even through the swirling white, the moon is bright, shining down mockingly. So caught up in trying to understand my need to protect Ruby, I missed the biggest threat of all. Slowly but surely, Ruby’s body is succumbing to shifter venom. And soon, the transformation will be complete. When the full moon rises, Ruby will become a lycan.